<p>researching4emb, have a great trip! I will be eager to hear your opinion about the schools you are visiting. My son is at New Paltz, so I am curious how you feel about NP compared to the other schools. I hope you have time to walk over to the town of New Paltz, about a 5 minute walk from the university…lots of cute shops, restaurants, galleries and coffee houses. If you need any recommendations in the area, I’d be happy to try and help.</p>
<p>Brandeis has a great theater dept-- BA and MFA</p>
<p>Cbrand, definitely do not write off Northwestern. Depending on your son’s SAT/ACT scores, he sounds like a good candidate. </p>
<p>Researching4emb is slightly mistaken about the theatre program. It is NOT audition-based, although they will take your son’s performance resume into consideration when he applies. The Musical Theatre Certificate Program is something that students can decide whether or not to audition for at the end of their freshman or sophomore years. I know students who have done both: auditioned for the MT program and decided not to, and they all have had incredible training and very rewarding experiences. (My son is a freshman, and will audition for program this May.) </p>
<p>If your child is looking for a well-rounded academic environment with kicka** theatre program, NU is a VERY good bet. As a Big 10 school, sports and Greek life are definitely present, but most theatre kids don’t participate and their worlds are more than full enough without it. Any questions, feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>I stand corrected about Northwestern… I’d heard that second-hand. I guess I didn’t research it carefully because it’s so difficult to get into academically that I didn’t think my D would have a chance, despite being a very good student.</p>
<p>Maybe she’ll considering applying anyway… you never know. I guess a lot depends on the dreaded SAT scores.</p>
<p>Muhlenberg is not the kind of school where the kids who were not the leads in high school get to shine. Many of the kids who go there are extremely talented and were the stars in high school. D who is now in NYU doing MT strongly considered going if scholarship money had not come through from NYU. Many extremely talented students with excellent training attend because of their merit aid, proximity to NYC and the opportunity to double major and go to a strong academic program. </p>
<p>So yes, it offers great options, but the competition to get cast will be very strong.</p>
<p>Hi, I am sort of in the opposite situation: My daughter is in a strong theater/musical theater program and has three shows going at any given time. She is an average academic student (poor at testing). Gifted in writing, and arts. She REALLY wants a college degree but needs a college that the focus will be on her audition more then her SAT scores. Ideally she would like to be close to NY for obvious reasons. She would like to be available for auditions. But she is no fool and realizes she needs the BA or BFA for back up plan. Oh one more thing. Need financial help hopefully a school that has some funds to help out. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>Yes, Wagner, Drew and Marymount Manhattan. None are particularly hard to get into academically, all have strong theatre, all are small, so she’d get smaller classes and personal attention, and all are New York. Marymount Manhattan is right in the city, Wagner is on Staten Island, and Drew is short hop away in New Jersey.</p>
<p>This is a BA thread, but Theatermommy mentioned BFAs.</p>
<p>If the young lady in question is more interested in an acting program than a MT program, the SUNY Purchase acting BFA would fill the bill, though admissions are insanely competitive artistically (not academically).</p>
<p>Montclair State, near NYC in New Jersey, is another school that Theatermommy’s daughter might want to investigate. It offers BFAs in MT and Acting.</p>
<p>I’m not sure about the plan (?) to audition in the city and maybe drop out of school if cast (?). Maybe somebody else could comment on this…</p>
<p>Has she considered Columbia? Columbia’s got a very small, non auditioned BA program in Theatre. Check it out!</p>
<p>What about Barnard? We are planning a visit. Is anyone familiar with their theatre program?</p>
<p>I’ve heard all raves about Barnard’s program, seen some wonderful actors who graduated from it, too.</p>